Growing concerns: Major tree repair best left to a professional
Some tree species have brittle wood and are easily damaged by ice and wind storms. (Fotolia.com)
I’m beginning to wonder if spring is ever going to come. One of the things I’m concerned about is how much damage the snow and high winds have done to trees this winter.
Homeowners often plant fast-growing trees such as elms, poplars, silver maples, birches and willows for rapid shade. However, these species have brittle wood and develop weak V-shaped crotches that easily split apart under added weight of ice or snow. They can drop a lot of limbs during the winter.
Trees with internal decay that may not have been evident from the exterior, are especially susceptible to severe winter damage. Many times, trees overhang the house, driveway or power lines servicing the home. When large limbs or tree tops are broken in an ice storm, they can cause major damage and expense.
For homeowners with trees with major limb or top damage, two questions should be addressed:
Does the condition of the tree warrant efforts to save it or should it be removed?
Major tree repair can be expensive and should only be attempted if a major portion of the tree is still intact and efforts can be made to maintain its attractiveness and value to the property.
If the whole side or top is gone, it’s questionable whether it’s worth spending the time and money to salvage the tree. This is especially true if it’s one with brittle wood that lends itself to similar problems in the future. Though no one wants to remove a large mature tree, the prudent decision may be to replace it with a young tree possessing desirable qualities.
Can you handle the damage repair yourself or should you seek professional help?
Small limbs can be removed easily with pruning shears or a pole-lopper provided they’re within your reach.
Do you feel comfortable climbing a ladder up into the tree? Power equipment should never be operated from a ladder or in the tree where firm footing is questionable.
Removing hanging limbs should be left to professional tree services. Look for them under Tree Service in the Yellow Pages. Make sure they carry proper liability and workers’ compensation insurance before allowing them to start the job.
What damage is repairable and what is not?
Broken limbs should be removed. Generally, if the branch hasn’t split away from the trunk, the broken segment should be removed back to the next major adjacent branch. Don’t leave branch stubs because they encourage rot and decay.
For trees with tops broken out, remove the snags to the next major interior branch. Generally, this will be a major fork. Avoid topping the tree to allow small side branches to grow out and continue the tree’s height growth. These branches will be weak and prone to breakage.
Sometimes, a damaged limb may strip healthy bark from the tree. To repair this type of damage, cut any ragged edges of torn bark away from the damaged area. Take care to limit the amount of healthy, tight bark removed.
To speed the healing process, the repair cut — made with a sharp knife back to healthy bark — should leave a wound shaped like an elongated football with the pointed ends of the cut running vertically along the trunk or limb or as near parallel to the initial damage as possible.
Trees with split trunks or major limb forks may be salvaged if the split is not too extensive. Repairing this type of damage will involve a cable and brace technique that should be left to a professional tree service.
Corrective pruning to help improve the shape of damaged trees is best done now. The tree will respond quickly this spring if it hasn’t been severely damaged. Take care not to remove more than one-third of original branches. This will severely retard the tree’s growth in the spring and may damage it beyond recovery.
Treatment of the trunk and limb wounds with tree paint isn’t necessary. Research shows that painted areas can lead to increased rot and decay due to trapped moisture in areas where the paint cracks open.
You may want to fertilize your tree this spring with a good quality tree fertilizer. Check with a local nursery or garden centre for recommended rates.